Tesla driver dead in Autopilot crash

We now learn of Brown being involved this time in not a near miss, but a very severe accident. Here’s the description from the police beat:

In a separate crash on May 7 at 3:40 p.m. on U.S. 27 near the BP Station west of Williston, a 45-year-old Ohio man was killed when he drove under the
trailer of an 18-wheel semi. The top of Joshua Brown’s 2015 Tesla Model S vehicle was torn off by the force of the collision. The truck driver,
Frank Baressi, 62, Tampa was not injured in the crash.

The FHP said the tractor-trailer was traveling west on US 27A in the left turn lane toward 140th Court. Brown’s car was headed east in the outside
lane of U.S. 27A.

When the truck made a left turn onto NE 140th Court in front of the car, the car’s roof struck the underside of the trailer as it passed under the
trailer. The car continued to travel east on U.S. 27A until it left the roadway on the south shoulder and struck a fence. The car smashed through two
fences and struck a power pole. The car rotated counter-clockwise while sliding to its final resting place about 100 feet south of the highway. Brown
died at the scene.Charges are pending.”

Brown hailed from Stow, Ohio where he owned NexuInnovations and was a 12 year veteran of the US Navy. From his bio:

I attended the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque for three years studying physics and computer science. Following my junior year, I enlisted in
the US Navy serving 11.5 wonderful years on active duty as a Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician (EOD). While deployed numerous times
overseas, in both warfighting and non-combatant roles with SOF (Special Operations Forces) units, it was my pleasure to work with the most
intelligent, innovative, and independent patriots I have ever met. My duty stations included: Information Technology A School, BUD/S, NDSTC,
NAVSCOLEOD, EODMU3, KTOD ACTD, and NSWDG. These opportunities allowed development of my operational experience as well as understanding and
associations within the research and development (R&D) community.

Seems like it's time for people to take personal responsibility for their own safety and actually DRIVE. For the safety of everyone around, if you're
too lazy to drive, then you should look into the purchase of a bus pass.

originally posted by: ReprobateRaccoon
Seems like it's time for people to take personal responsibility for their own safety and actually DRIVE. For the safety of everyone around, if you're
too lazy to drive, then you should look into the purchase of a bus pass.

I agree in principle; those who wish to drive should take responsibility. However, autonomous cars would be an absolute godsend for those who can't
drive, for many reasons. Blind people; the physically impaired; the elderly who don't trust themselves behind the wheel; those who simply don't feel
capable of driving...

originally posted by: ReprobateRaccoon
Seems like it's time for people to take personal responsibility for their own safety and actually DRIVE. For the safety of everyone around, if you're
too lazy to drive, then you should look into the purchase of a bus pass.

Too right.Too many people now get insular because they know they're surrounded by all sorts of air bags,curtains and collision avoidance systems and
don't have to concentrate on driving like they used to.They know that if they have accident now they'll almost certainly walk away from it.The car
will protect them so why bother the tedious task of needing to concentrate on driving it?

Of course. Until these vehicles have had stringent road tests the comparisons will always be to the detriment of the new technology. It is the nature
of these tests; if in doubt err on the side of caution.

I disagree completely. The same should be applied to non automated vehicled before next years 1.3 million deaths.

I cannot stress enough that the numbers still show significant benefits to automated vehicles on a per capita comparison.

The numbers are still vastly in favor of automation.

I understand what you are saying. I agree that autonomous cars will one day be of great benefit to people. I already intimated as much in a previous
post.

That being said, I don't see how you can take general and honest concerns regarding safety of an unproven-in-real terms technology and somehow compare
to a century old technology and expect people to just say ok.

The main concern is safety, sure, but there are other concerns as well. You quote the 1.3 million deaths as if that is the last word so I have a
question; How many lives have been saved by the quick reactions of drivers in situations that simply could not be predicted by a computer?

That is what I was thinking. I have adaptive cruise control on my SUV and there is a pretty extensive explanation in the driver's manual that
cresting hills or other obstacles could hamper the radar's ability to "see". Even though my car slows and speeds up automatically and can also brake
on it's own, I'm still watching and can take over at any second.

My guess is the truck pulled out and the radar went under the trailer, so it just never saw it.

The real error was the truck probably pulling out unexpectedly. It is anyone's guess if a driver would have been able to stop in time. Considering
that reports are saying the Tesla never braked, I'd venture that the Tesla driver also wasn't paying attention.

It has been in the works for a decade. Las Vegas was one of the first states to even allow one to be on the road. That was a few years ago. And
testing laws and requirements are in the books and governance has a very keen eye on all progress.

As in the early days of flight there will be pioneers...and deaths. This isn't a new way to make food, it is transportation at high speeds with all
the variables that that entails. And each time there is a death, the data will be pored over and changes, if necessary, will be made.

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